Educational Assistant

Growing Up New Mexico•Santa Fe, NM

3d•$19 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

Growing Up New Mexico is hiring Educational Assistants for our Infant, Toddler, and 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old classrooms at the Early Learning Center at Kaune. This center is a state-funded PreK Program focused on strengthening families and the community through early intervention, education, economic development, and family support. The Educational Assistant, in collaboration with the Lead Teacher and other staff, will help create a positive environment for children's development, fostering their inquiries and social-emotional growth. The role involves participating in reflective practices with colleagues to enhance understanding and work with children and families. The program adheres to ECECD regulations, New Mexico PreK standards, and NAEYC standards, operating with a Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED
Experience working with young children zero to five
Early Care, Education, and Family Support Entry Level Course (45-hour certificate) required.
English writing proficiency required.
Practical knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
Sensitivity with children and families who represent a wide range of socio-economic and risk factors.
Ability to work well in a culturally diverse setting and knowledge of local population served.
Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date records using both paper files and computer software such as MS Word.
Effective and accurate interpersonal communication skills, both oral and written.
Professionalism, tact, and patience when communicating with children, families, employees, and staff at all levels of the organization.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
Function effectively with teaching staff as a team member and work independently when required.
Ability to pass a mandatory background clearance required of all childcare workers in the State of New Mexico.
CPR certified within first 90 days of employment.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, drive, sit for long periods of time and use computer equipment and cell phones. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must be able to lift 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Higher education, specifically in Early Childhood Education or closely related coursework.
Associate degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.
One year of work experience in early childhood education.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred.
Ability to read and write in Spanish is preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Support learning through a Reggio Emilia approach; support children’s research through an analytical and inquiry-based process; engage in dialogue around the Reggio Emilia principles and work toward implementing them in the classroom.
Support Lead Teacher in creating a learning environment that supports learning in all areas: self, family, and community; social and emotional; literacy and language; physical; scientific inquiry; mathematical; and approaches to learning and creativity.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized environment in the classroom and, alongside the rest of the Kaune team, throughout the school.
Manage the classroom through a democratic and respectful process.
Ensure that all ECECD regulations for childcare, including those pertaining to health and safety, are met for each child at all times, including knowledge of and participation in emergency evacuation procedures.
Assist Lead Teacher to create and maintain a classroom environment that supports all children, including but not limited to, children from diverse cultures and languages and children needing special developmental support.
Assist Lead Teacher to prepare and share weekly lesson plans based on research questions grounded in the Reggio Emilia approach, ongoing assessment and observation of children’s learning and development.
Assist Lead Teacher to assess children’s development and learning through recorded classroom observations, based on Early Learning Guideline’s essential indicators with adherence to New Mexico PreK standards.
Participate in weekly staff Collaborative Curriculum Meetings, All-Team Meetings, Monthly Team Meetings and Individual Meetings with supervisor and co-workers.
Be prepared to share and present documentation, alongside the Lead Teacher, as required by the Director of Early Learning at Kaune, for staff Collaborative Curriculum Meetings and Team Meetings.
Prepare panels and documentation, alongside the Lead Teacher, reflecting children’s project work and studies in the classroom.
Ensure ongoing supportive communication with families: share community resources, communicate about delicate and challenging situations, and ensure completion of all family paperwork (children’s files, incident reports, child abuse reports, etc.). Complete home visits and conferences in a timely manner.
Exhibit professionalism, tact and patience when communicating with children, families, employees, and staff at all levels of the organization.
Respond positively to Lead Teacher, Director of Early Learning, and other supervisors regarding observations, direction, and interventions regarding behavior in the classroom, Growing Up NM policies and procedures, protocols and ECECD licensing/program standards as guidelines; proactively take steps to meet any agreed upon goals.
Establish a Professional Development Plan (PDP) by actively completing all degree requirements for Educational Assistant, as required by New Mexico licensing, PreK and NAEYC. Attend all required trainings.
Comply with all Growing Up NM policies/procedures, Early Learning Center at Kaune protocols and ECECD licensing/program standards.
Always represent Growing Up New Mexico in a professional manner at special events or programs connected with the Early Learning Center. Please note you must be flexible as events may be held outside regular work hours (evenings/weekends).
Perform within the prescribed limits of Growing Up NM ethics and compliance policies and in adherence to the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
Follow program, discipline, and confidentiality policies and procedures for the Early Learning Center at Kaune.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Director of Early Learning at Kaune.